The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 479

,er,;. lG-22, 28-30.-God's.foresight of Israel's declension. We learn- I. 'l'HAT THE FUTURE IS PERFECTLY UNVEILED TO Goo. God claims this power 0.9 0uc of his prerogatives (Isa. xii. 22; xiii. 9; xliii. 25, 2G; xlv. 20, 21). And no one can questi0Il but that these predictions have been strikingly fulfilled. Tho people did corrupt themseh·es and turn aside, and evil did befall them in the lntter days (ver. 29). I I. THAT THE PLAINEST WARNINGS ARE FllEQUENTLY DISREGARDED. Israel was 1111dcr no government of fate. Had the people repented, they would have been foro-iven. The predictions are cast in absolute form, only becnuse God saw that warning ~vould not be taken. He would only too gladly have revoked his threatenin<rs had Israel J'()U~ed to alarm, turned from its evil (cf. t~e case of Nineveh). This, l~o:vever, it did not do, L:it, with these woe-laden prophecies spread before it, rushed madly on, as if cager to fulfil them. How like sinners still! The plainest declarations, the most explicit warnings, the direst threatenings, are as little reeked of as if no Word of God were in existence. Strnnge that God's Word should be so disregarded, and yet profession so often made of believing in it (cf. Jer. xxxvi.) ! Ill. THAT Goo's Wono RAS ITS USES EVEN THOUGH MEN PROVE DISODEDIENT. It is to be spoken to them and taught them, "whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear" (Ezek. ii. 7). It tells them the truth. It shows them their duty. It warns them of the consequences of disobedience. It upholds a. witness for God in their apostacy (ver. HJ). It renders them inexcusable. A solemn responsibility thus attaches to us in the possession of God's Word. IV. THAT A TIME WILL COME WHEN THE SIID-'ER WILL DE FORCED TO CONFESS THAT GoD's WORDS AGAINST HIM HAVE ALL BECOME TRUE. (Ver. 17-) Only that time may come too late (ver. 18). "Missing God is not true repentance' (Keil).-J. 0. ,ers. 1-8.-T/,e leadership made over to Joshua. There is something wonderfully 1mtbetic in the great leader, whose eye is yet undimmecl, laying down his trust beside the Jordan. He is a hundred and twenty years old, but the Lord bath denied him the pfr,ilege of entering the land of promise. He now meekly resigns bis command, and nominates Joshua as his successor. It might have discouraged the people, the loss of their great leader; but he points them upward to the Lord their God, who had been the real Leader in the Exodus and pilgrimage, and who was going at their head across the J urdan. Their faith in the invisible Leader is to be strengthened now that the visible aud human leader is to be taken away from them, Besides, they are to have Joshua as the captain of the host. We notice here- I. THE MEN APPOTh'TED DY Goo TO SPECIAL OFFICE RECEIVE FROM RIM SPECIAL PREPARATIOX. Moses himself had received a wondrous preparation, first at bis mother's knee, next in the palace of Pharaoh, and next in the solitudes of Midian. Aud Joshua, "·ho is to succeed him as leader, though not as lawgiver, has also received important preparation. He is :first a~sociatcd with Moses in the mount, as he is receiving the Law. He is thus trained to firm faith in the invisible King, and accustomed to his wonders. He is next exercistd in battle, leading the Israelites against Amalek, and proving himself skilful in the field. He had also, as a spy, become minutely acquainted with the land of promise, and brought up with Caleb an encouraging report. None was so fitted as be fur high command. Just, then, as the twelve were carefully trained to be the apostles of the Church, so was Joshua trained, aud so is every one selected for important work. ll. THE ASSURANCE THAT Goo WAB ASSOCIA'l'ED WITH THE INVASION GAVE TH~ INVADERS THE DEBT POSSIBLE STIMULUS. God is to go with them; they need in such 11, case foa.r no evil. Their foes may be gigantic, but greater is he that is for them than  en. xxxt. 1-80,] THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. 491